"The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary". The recitation of the Angelus and the ringing of Church bells three times a day has been a longstanding Catholic practice. Though many of us now live in situations where it is no longer possible or advisable to ring the Church bells to announce the Angelus, it is still a valuable spiritual exercise to pause for a moment during our busy day to remember the central gift of our faith: the Incarnation of Jesus, and the work of our redemption.

Through Lent, we prepare for Easter. At the end of the year, through Advent we will prepare for Christmas. But the Annunciation begins a longer cycle of preparation for both Christmas and Easter. The shadow of the Cross lies over Christmas, and the glory of the resurrection lightens up the room of the Annunciation in Mary's house at Nazareth. Through the Paschal mystery of her Son, Mary was prepared for this moment in humility and poverty, freedom and grace. Called to be Mother of God, she is Mother of the Redemption.